Attachment for skates



Nov. 22, 1938. J, P, JQRGENSEN 2,137,637

ATTACHMENT FOR SKATES Filed Feb. 14, 1938 m Q/ames )QC/oryensen I 4 ,4 4 Mm v fir avw Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 9 Claims.

The invention relates to skates, more particularly ice skates, and the general aim of the invention is to provide new and improved means for attachment to a skate for protecting the sharpened blade edge from damage when the skater must walk on the ground to reach or leave the ice.

A general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved blade protecting attachment for ice skates which is simple and inexpensive in construction, which may readily and conveniently be attached to or detached from a skate, which will enable the skater wearing the skates to walk about safely and naturally, which 1 5 will not become dislodged under the weight of different skaters or under the stresses incident to walking, and which is applicable to skates of widely varying dimensions.

Another object is to provide a skate blade protecting attachment for so-called tubular ice skates which is adapted to grip the blade supporting structure with sufficient force to transmit the wearers weight directly to the tread portion of the attachment and thereby support the skate blade proper about such tread portion.

A further object is to provide a protecting attachment adapted to engage the supporting structure of a skate blade on opposite sides of one support connecting such structure with the shoe and coacting with such support to hold the attachment against both lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the skate during walking.

The invention also resides in the novel character of the attachment construction which en- 35 ables the same to be formed from sheet metal,

which provides for proper gripping of the blade structure, and which improves the traction between the ground and the tread portion of the attachment.

Another object of the invention, stated more particularly, is to provide an improved attachment for skates which embodies a member formed of a suitably resilient material, such as spring steel, to provide a tubular body having a wardly facing margin of the recess with a downwardly facing part of the support.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined skate and attachment embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is .a transverse section through the skate and attachment and is taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively an end view and a perspective View of the attachment.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of attachment for use with a different type of skate.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through said modified form of attachment and is taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 5.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and .alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an attachment having a surface of substantial size for engagement with the ground and adapted for combination with the blade of a skate in such manner that the ground engaging surface is located and centered substantially on the axial line of the supporting means which connects the blade of the skate with the shoe. This supporting means, according to conventional practice, is so located that one support is disposed on the longitudinal line of balance and beneath the ball of the wearers foot, and another support is positioned on the same line beneath the heel. By arrang ing the attachments so that the ground engaging surfaces thereof .are on the axial line of the supports, the normal balance of the user is not in the least disturbed and the surfaces are located precisely in their proper, most advantageous positions.

As may be seen from Fig. 1 of the drawing, two attachments are used for each skate. Since the attachments are substantially identical in construction, only one need be described. In the form of attachment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the embodiment, which has been shown for illustrative purposes, comprises a member having a tubular body portion III fashioned to present a ground engaging surface II of substantial size. On the side of the body portion opposite to the ground extending surfaces are upstanding substantially parallel plates or flanges I2 constructed, as will be more particularly described, to provide a pair of longitudinal clips I3 at their upper ends adapted to fit around and grip the skate blade assembly so as to secure the attachment to the skate.

The attachment may be conveniently formed from a fiat piece of suitable material, such as sheet metal, which may be stamped or otherwise bent into shape and which is resilient or capable of being tempered. The ground engaging surface is an intermediate portion of the piece ofsheet metal and the adjacent portions are bent upwardly and then inwardly to form the body portion Iii. In this instance, said portion is substantially of rectangular cross-section. The meeting marginal portions of the sheet metal piece are turned outwardly of the body portion in substantial parallelism to provide the flanges I2, and these flanges are spaced apart to receive therebetween the blade structure of a. skate. The preferred dimension is such that the flanges must be sprung outwardly when the blade is inserted therebetween, and the resiliency of the material should be ample to insure that the flanges will grip the sides of the blade structure firmly and securely as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the conventional skate structure includes a blade I4 and a pair of supports l5 which extend between the blade and the shoe on the longitudinal center line of balance and located respectively beneath the ball and heel sections of the shoe. The attachment may be conveniently secured to the skate structure with the ground engaging surface of the attachment centered substantially on the axis of either support in the following manner. The flanges I2 are intermediately recessed, as indicated at I6 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5), to provide longitudinally spaced ends or fingers H which extend outwardly as integral continuations of the flanges and are cooperatively alined with the fingers on the opposite flange to form the clips IS. The longitudinal dimension of the recess I6 is such that when the attachment is assembled on the skate, the longitudinally spaced clips straddle the support I5 and dispose a clip on each side thereof and relatively close thereto. Thus, merely afiixing the attachment in place effects a proper centering of the surface I l relative to the users foot. The clips II are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the largest standard I5 of a standard skate.

The style of skate shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is of the so-called tubular type, and the structure of this skate usually includes a tubular member !3 arranged to embrace the upper or unsharpened edge of the blade and to be secured thereto through such means as depending lips I9 integral with the tube. In the attachment for this type of blade, the ends or fingers I! have arcuate portions designated formed substantially complemental to the outer surface of the tubular backing member [8 so as to fit snugly around and grip the latter. Beyond the arcuate portions 20, the margins of the fingers may be outturned to form ears 2i which coact with the under sides of the skate tube I8 and cam the fingers I'I apart so as to facilitate the entrance of a blade structure therebetween. Inwardly of the arcuate portions, the flanges may be slightly bent toward each other, as indicated at 22. These portions are alined with the upper edges 22 of the flanges l2 between the clips and all of these portions lie alongside the line of mergence of the tube I8 and the lips if) so as to bear upwardly against the underside of the tube along the lines of juncture of the latter with the skate blade. The weight of the skater is thus transmitted directly from the tube to the tread portion II through the medium of the flanges I2 and distributed over long surfaces. This engagement coupled with the fact that the flanges I2 are pressed firmly against the skate blade effectively holds the attachment against tilting either laterally or longitudinally relative to the skate blade under the weight of the skater.

As shown in Fig. 2, the attachment may be assembled upon a blade structure merely by inserting the blade between the elements of the clips and pressing the attachment toward the sharpened edge of the blade until ,the arcuate portions 28 of the clips embrace and grip the tubular backing member I8. Preferably, the depth of the recesses I 6 is such that the margins which underlie the support I5 abut outwardly projecting parts of the support when the attachment is assembled on the skate structure. This provides an assembly which is substantially as rigid as though the parts were positively secured together. It should be noted, as shown in Fig. 2, that the dimensions of the body portion and the flanges are such that the sharpened edge of the blade 23 is maintained in spaced relation to the opposed parts of the attachment and this in spite of variations which may exist in different skates between the edge and the tube or which will vary as the skates are sharpened in service use.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the modified form of attachment is adapted for use with a skate blade of the rocker type in which the blade supports I 5 are formed as an integral part of the blade. Generally, this attachment is like the one previously described. The flanges l2, however, are fashioned for snug gripping engagement with a straight sided blade and the fingers which form the clips have near their outer ends sharply inturned and then outturned portions 24 arranged materially to restrict the spacing between the fingers and provide abutments which bear against the upper or unsharpened edge of the blade. This arrangement prevents the attachment from accidental movement outwardly from its properly assembled position on the blade. In this form of attachment, it may be desirable to provide a cushioning means underlying the sharpened edge of the blade, and to this end, the tubular body may receive and support a block 25 of a suitable soft, yielding material such as rubber.

If desired, the ground engaging surface I I of the attachment may be provided with means for increasing traction. In this embodiment, such means is shown as comprising sharp projections 26 struck out of the body of the material to extend beyond the ground engaging surface. These projections are preferably spaced outwardly from the plane of the skate blade so that under the weight of the wearer, the upper ends of the clips are urged toward each other thereby increasing the gripping force exerted on the tube.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a. new and improved attachment for skates has been provided which affords complete protection to the sharpened surface of the blade and which provides ground engaging surfaces of substantial dimension located precisely in the positions where they will most effectively preserve the balance of the wearer, namely, under the ball and heel portions of the foot and directly on the line of the supports Which secure theskate blade to the shoe. Where the flanges extend substantially vertically, as from a body of rectangular cross-- section, the flanges and clips not only grip the blade sides to provide lateral rigidity to the assembly but transmit the weight of the user to the attachment body along the line of the skate blade, thus avoiding possible twisting or angular strains which might detach the device from the skate. The attachment may be readily secured in place upon the skate or removed therefrom and when attached becomes a substantially rigid fixed part of the skate assembly. The attachment is of simple construction and may be readily manufactored from sheet metal for sale at a low cost to the user.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an attachment for ice skates having a blade, a tubular backing portion and spaced supports for connecting the blade to a shoe, said attachment comprising, a tubular member fashioned of resilient material and including a body portion of substantially rectangular cross-section providing a ground engaging surface of substantial dimensions, traction increasing means projecting outwardly beyond said surface, laterally spaced longitudinal flanges extending outwardly in approximate parallelism from the side of said body opposite to said surface, said flanges having spaced fingers thereon arranged to provide longitudinally spaced pairs of opposed cooperating fingers, said fingers each having an inwardly facing arcuate portion facing toward the cooperating finger to form therebetween a channel dimensioned to receive snugly and firmly the tubular backing portion of a skate blade, the longitudinal spacing of the pairs of fingers being such that the pairs straddle a connecting support, the marginal edges of said flanges between the pairs of fingers being positioned to abut the adjacent outwardly extending portions of said support, and the flanges and body portion of the attachment being dimensioned to hold the sharpened edge of the blade in spaced relation to said body portion.

2. An attachment for ice skates of the type in which the one edge of the skate blade is fastened in an elongated tube, said attachment comprising a body adapted to enclose the sharpened edge of the skate blade and including a substantially flat ground engaging portion, two substantially fiat members upstanding from said bodyand closely spaced to lie against opposite sides of the blade assembly with the upper edges of the members bearing upwardly against the under side of said tube, and a pair of clips on each of said members spaced to grip the sides of said tube at points spaced longitudinally of the latter and disposed on opposite sides of the standard to which the skate blade assembly is attached.

3. An attachment for ice skates of the type in which one edge of the skate blade is fastened in an elongated reinforcing tube, said attachment comprising, a stationary flat tread portion, two spaced plates of spring steel or the like on said tread portion and extending upwardly therefrom and resiliently urged toward each other, saidplates being adapted to receive a skate blade therebetween and having the upper end portions thereof positioned to abut the bottom of the reinforcing tube of the blade adjacent the lines of juncture between the tube and-blade, said plates being of sufficient height to hold the active edge of the skate blade above said tread portion, and oppositely curved spring clips fashioned integrally on said upper end portions of said plates for embracing and yieldably gripping the sides of the tube, whereby said spring steel plates serve not only to support the tube under the weight of a wearer with the blade disposed above said tread portion but also to press said clips into gripping engagement therewith.

4. An attachment for skates of the type in which one edge of the skate blade is fastened within an elongated reenforcing tube, said attachment being fashioned from a single generally rectangular piece of sheet metal such as spring steel and comprising a central portion forming a tread of substantial width, lateral side portions bent upwardly from the tread portion and toward each other to form generally upright supporting plates adapted to receive a skate blade therebetween with the upper end portions of the plates in abutment With the bottom of the reenforcing tube of the blade adjacent the lines of juncture between the tube and blade, said plates being of sufiicient height to hold the active edge of the blade above said tread portion, and integral oppositely curved spring clips fashioned on said upper end portions of said plates for embracing and yieldably gripping the sides of the tube whereby said spring steel plates serve to support the tube and also hold said clips in gripping engagement therewith under the weight of a wearer while permitting of resilient separation of said clips and ready removal of the attachment by movement thereof downwardly and laterally off from the blade.

5. An attachment for ice skates of the type in which one edge of the skate blade is fastened within an elongated reenforcing tube, said attachment comprising, a substantially rectangular portion of sheet metal such as spring steel arranged in generally tubular shape with the bottom of the tube flattened to form a tread portion of substantial width and the lateral edge portions of the sheet bent upwardly in generally parallel closely spaced relationship to form upright arms for receiving a skate blade therebetween and supporting the active edge of said skate blade above said tread portion when said arms contact the lower side of said reenforcing tube, the upper ends of said arms being curved to embrace the sides of said tube and yieldably urged into gripping engagement with the tube not only by the resiliency of the material which forms the curved portions themselves, but also. by the resiliency of the material which forms said arms.

6. An attachment for ice skates of the type in which one edge of the skate blade is fastened in an elongated reenforcing tube, said attachment comprising, a tread portion of substantial width, two spaced plates of spring steel or the like upstanding from said tread portion and resiliently urged toward each other, said plates being adapted to receive a skate blade therebetween and having the upper end portions thereof positioned to abut the bottom of the reenforcing tube of the blade adjacent the lines of juncture between the tube and blade, said plates being of sufficient height to hold the active edge of the blade above said tread portion, integral oppositely curved spring clips fashioned on said upper portions of said plates for embracing and yieldably gripping the sides of the tube, said clips being urged toward the tube not only by their own resiliency but also that of said plates, and upwardly and outwardly projecting integral ears on the upper ends of said clips engageable by the tube when inserted therebetween to cam said clips apart to receive the tube.

'7. The combination with a shoe and skate structure in which a skate blade is attached to the shoe by vertical supports spaced longitudinally of the shoe and disposed substantially on the center of balance of the ball and heel of the shoe respectively, of a pair of interchangeably detachable and substantially duplicate blade protective attachments, each of said attachments embodying a ground engaging surface and means including a spring clip engageable with the blade supporting structure of the skate on opposite sides of one of said supports and also with such support to releasably hold the attachment against both longitudinal and lateral displacement relative to the skate blade during walking andin such position that the ground engaging surface is substantially centered below the associated support.

8. An attachment for protecting the blade of a tubular ice skate comprising a rigid groundengaging portion of substantial width and laterally yieldable resilient arms upstanding from said portion to receive the skate blade therebetween and embrace a substantial length of the skate tube when said blade edge is disposed above said portion, said arms engaging said tube along the under side thereof and gripping the sides of the tube with suflicient force to transmit the weight of the skate wearer directly to said portion and thereby hold said blade edge out of contact with said portion.

9. An attachment for protecting the blade of an ice skate comprising a piece of tempered sheet metal having a tread portion of substantial Width and integral spring arms upstanding from said portion to receive the skate blade edge and its support therebetween, said arms resiliently gripping the sides of said support to hold the attachment in place thereon, and ground-engaging projections struck out of the metal of said portion and laterally displaced outwardly from the skate blade whereby the said arms are flexed inwardly under the weight of the skate wearer during walking and thereby increase the gripping action of the arms.

JAMES P. JORGENSEN. 

